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​The poultry industry in Alabama is comprised primarily of broiler production. Hence, broiler litter is the number one poultry waste generated in the state. Land application of litter to forages and row crops are a viable option for utilizing this valuable resource. With escalating fertilizer prices, farmers are developing a renewed interest in litter for its nutrient valu[...]

Prior to the recent dry weather this past week, the generally wet and cloudy weather patterns over much of August across Alabama were favorable for the development of foliar diseases in cotton and peanut.The disease risks in both crops was enhanced by the [...]

Taproot decline (TRD) was detected in a soybean field near Belforest in Baldwin County this week. The disease, first detected in Alabama in 2016, has now been found in 21 counties across the state. The first reports of TRD in the United States were from Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi in 2007. However the pathogen was not formally identified until 2017 (https://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/php/volume18/number1/PHP-01-17-0004-RS.pdf[...]

August 26, 2018: So far numbers of acres treated for soybean loopers (SBL's) are less than normal in Alabama but the recent statewide increase in SBL moth trap catch numbers and the increase in the number of small SBL's in test plots in Baldwin and Escambia counties indicate the possibility of more fields requiring treatment during the next two weeks.

Soybean looper moth trap catches at 5 trapping sites in the state have in[...]

August is the month when Alabama soybean producers typically make the most foliar applications of insecticides to soybeans. The primary targets of these applications are stink bugs (SB's) and caterpillars. SB's begin moving into soybean fields in significant numbers when small beans begin forming in the pods. SB's are long-lived insects that can cause a lot of damage to soybean crops. Adults can live for up to two months, while[...]

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Precision Ag Blogs

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The National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), through the Conservation and Innovation grants (CIG) program, is currently funding two projects related to irrigation in the Southeast. One is in Alabama and the other is in Georgia. With funding totaling more than $1 million, Extension and Research faculty from Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension system will conduct demonstrations for three years of the innovative irrigation[...]

Through a federal appropriation secured by Congressman Robert Aderholt, $8 million is available to eligible farmers in certain watersheds to install new irrigation systems on land that is not currently irrigated. Under current federal programs, farmers and landowners are limited to improving existing systems. It is the first time in many years that funds will be available for new irrigated acres.

Success of the growing season starts on the front end with planting. Seed costs continue to increase so peak performance of the planter is critical to maximize the yield potential of every seed. The Alabama Precision Ag Team has been hard at work getting our planters and technology prepped for the upcoming season. Our focus has been ensuring planting depth is correct while not placing too much down force on the gauge wheels to induce side wall[...]

Big data or data management in agriculture continues to be a hot topic. The 2013 InfoAg Conference highlighted not only how data management is growing in agriculture through the tradeshow and presentations but that industry partnerships will be a key to success of this data evolution. One company cannot provide the one-stop shop as it relates to ag data management since this service is compl[...]

We know the adoption of precision ag continues to increase across the US. Here in Alabama, technology and site-specific management exceeds national averages reported by the USDA.

In 2009 and 2010, the Alabama Precision Ag Team conducted surveys around the state asking farmers their adoption of many available technologies. Data was collected during winter crop production meetings coordinated by the Alabama Co[...]